If you want to use macOS or earlier versions on Intel-based Windows OS computers by VMware workstation or VM player, “macOS unlocker” is a compulsory utility. This unlocker utility replaces a few VMware program files and patches them to install and use macOS and older versions as virtual machines on Windows Operating Systems.
Here is the download link of the working VMware unlocker that supports VMware Workstation versions 11 to 16 (all tested by me) on Windows 10, 11 and older versions 8.1 64- bit and Win 7 32-bit physical computers.
Unlocker version 3.0.4
The latest unlocker version (3.0.4) released by the developer in February 2022 has several bug fixes and supports the guest macOS version up to macOS 13 (Ventura). Also, this utility works on Windows 11 computers with the latest VMware Workstation Pro (v 16) and Player products.
We published a few guides about installing Mavericks, Mountain Lion and Lion OS X on VMware workstation using this unlocker.
Read Also: Download macOS 13 Ventura VMware Image.
VMware macOS Unlocker (Workstation 11-16) Download Link
Download the DrDonk unlocker from the developer’s site here.
It has been tested with Workstation 11-16 versions and VMware players 7,12,15, and 16. If you have the older version of unlocker installed, you must uninstall it before installing the latest version. Failure to do this may hamper your VMware workstation files and program.
Install macOS Unlocker on Windows 10/11 for VMware Workstation/Player
1) Since this tool will be changing and updating the binary files of the VMware workstation, it is always good practice to backup the VMware program folder before executing the unlocker.
2) After downloading the zip file, extract it.
3) If you have the previous unlocker version, you must uninstall it first.
To do that, right-click on the uninstallation script and execute it as administrator.
Note: VMware workstation or player must be completely switched off before running this script.
4) Close any working Virtual machines and VMware program. Execute the installation script as administrator.
While executing the unlocker script in Windows 11, you may get the Microsoft defender SmartScreen warning. You can click more and ‘Run anyway’ to continue the installation.
5) It will patch some files and download the VMware tools for macOS guest machines. Let it do and complete those steps.
6) Now, you must see the difference in the guest OS support. You can’t create any macOS virtual machines without the patch since they are not listed as supported versions, as shown below.
After the patch, now it should appear as below.
The latest Unlocker 3.0.4 brings the support up to macOS 10.16 (Big Sur). So, it supports macOS 10.15 Catalina and 10.14 Mojave too. Also, after selecting the latest version (10.16), we can use the VMware workstation to use macOS 12 Monterey on Windows 11 and Windows 10 computers.
I’m just a tester of this utility. Full credits should go to the developer who produced a great tool. This particular macOS unlocker works on Intel processor Windows and Linux computers only. AMD is not supported yet.
If you have the older version of the VMware workstation earlier than version 11, you need the older version of the unlocker.
Here is working Big Sur 10.16 on Windows 10 with VMware workstation 16.
After patching the VMware workstation with this unlocker, the patch is no longer valid if you upgrade the VMware to any major versions. You may not be able to run or create macOS VMs anymore. You need to run the latest unlocker (which has the support of the VMware version you upgraded) to get the macOS virtual machine support again.
Older versions of Unlockers (Link below)
a) Visit the official site to download unlocker 2.0.7 (free registration required). This works for VMware workstation 11.
b) For VMware versions 10, 9, 8 and 7, you need to get version 1.0.3.
In the older versions of unlocker, you may find different sets of files.
Right-click on install.cmd file and select Run as administrator option as shown below. Also, you can start the command prompt as administrator on Windows 7 computer and execute install.cmd from the command prompt.
Here is the working Mountain Lion OS X 10.8 on VMware workstation 9 with Windows 7 32-bit host after using the unlocker.
With these all information, you must have a clear idea of downloading and installing the VMware macOS unlocker on Windows 11/10 and older versions.
How to install VMware Unlocker in Linux?
The same Unlocker tool has the installation script for Linux OS. Execute the lnx-install.sh file from the terminal with the root access. This step will patch the VMware workstation on your Linux computer and support macOS as a guest virtual machine.
How to get Mac OS on VMware – Windows OS?
VMware workstations or players for Windows do not support Mac OS officially. We need to download and run a VMware unlocker to enable the support for macOS on Windows. Then we can use the pre-installed macOS VMware images or modified ISO files to get Mac OS on VMware.
Where can I download the latest VMware tools for macOS on Windows OS?
The VMware unlocker tool has a script to download the latest Darwin VMware tools for macOS. Execute win-update-tools.cmd from the unlocker extracted location. You can see a folder called ‘tool’ with the latest VMware tools.
204 Comments
hi can somebody help me after downloading unlocker 2.0.2 to unlock the mac os x mavericks i’m not getting the file win-install.cmd and having only instal
I downloaded and extracted unlocker 2.0.2. I have Linux Mint 17.1 and Workstation 11 I need help getting this to work in Linux. Could someone please help me out here?
my vmware workstation shown option of apple os x but when i tried to install mavericks it says efi network unsuccessful
Same here! 🙁
any help please?
i am unable to see the changes and followed the above steps and getting below error. Can you plz help…
Patching…
‘vmxsmc.exe’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
Kumar,
Try running it from the “c:Program Files (x86)vmware” subfolder where vmxsmc.exe is located.
Hi ,
Anybody please help me , my sign in itself is not working.
Always ends up saying password is wrong, even tough am using the password obtained by the site through forgot password feature.
Please do help me !
Thanks , Hanish.D
Oddly, at the installation of Snow Leopard, , the select disk remains empty, despite the fact I havae mounted a virtual hard disk. I tried IDE, SATA and SCSI and I still can”t select anything when it comes to choose a disk to install the OS. What do yout think ?
Don’t mind me : I just answered my own question : I just had to format the virtual disk into HFS+
Does anyone know if the unlocker works on a Windows 7 64 bit physical computer running VMware 11?
The Unlocker204 worked on VMware v11 🙂
Even though I’m running Win8.1, I see no reason why it shouldn’t work for Win7
I’m trying to install Yosemite on VM 11 on win 8.1, after installing it half way it is stuck! Can you provide any suggestion? How did you get it done? Oh and I did install the unlocker right after i installed vmware 11 workstation…
Yes, it works with Windows 7 64bit.
The download links are dead. Can you provide a working link please?
Thanks!
I had installed Mavericks, without the patch, worked more or less. Then I updated throuh App Store to Yosemite. Worked but took very long (half day). First boot was ok to Yosemite, but then, next boot stuck in the half of the progress bar for hours, nothing happened anymore. So I installed the patch on my vmware 10 workstation and after this, the boot to yosemite was fast and normal. Here is the patch if any need:
http://www.file-upload.net/download-10390898/VMware-Workstation-Unlocker—Windows.zip.html
maybe down soon, dont know this uploader well.
Can any one plz help me.. After extracting and doing all the steps above mentioned,i still find no change in the options of os to be installed,am not getting Apple mac os. Pls, help me suggesting the changes
The unlocker 1 working well on VMWare Workstation well, with OSX 10.9.4
Where can i get yosimite vmware image?
I upgraded 6.0.3 Player to 7 – how uninstall old unlocked and install new one…?
This is awesome post,really helpful
I’m using Win 8.1 , VM 11 workstation and trying to install Yosemite … but after installing it half way it is stuck and wont let me kill it or reinstall it… I’ve tried to uninstall VM workstation and reinstalled it… but not working. After installing VM 11, I also applied the unlocker. I want to redo the OS installation from the beginning… how can I do that? Can anyone help?
Working for me!! thank you so much
My vmware workstation shown option of apple os x but when i tried to install mavericks it says efi network unsuccessful.
Help me please..!
It’s been the most flawless setups of vmware based Mac OS in my life. Thank you for saving so much time and sharing great pleasure of having OS X installed.
Graphics are just awesome, btw
PS.: I tried to get Lion in VMWare WRKSTN 11, at first I got black screen every time till I updated the image to an 11th version, and now it is just perfect.
Vmware Workstation 12 has just been release. I had to upgrade to the latest versio because of my Host OS being Windoze 10. Are they going to release Unlocker for WKS 12 as well?
Thanks
I had no issue using the patch for 11 on 12.
VMware workstation 12 released. Nice article about new features that come with the latest VMware workstation 12 pro
VMware Workstation 12 Pro New Features
http://www.sysadminshowto.com/vmware-workstation-12-pro-new-features/
I get an error : “your cpu has been disabled by the guest os” even after patching. I’m running an AMD APU, please help.
I have got an error
File not found Darwin.*
What can i do???
2.0.7 not working on WM 12 Windows 10 64bits
Same here not working on Win 10/64 and Workstation 12.0.1
I have Workstation 12 and have patched with Unlocker 2.07 and Apple OS now shows in the Guest operating list but Versions 10.6 all show as Server versions. I have Snow Leopard 10.6 and it wont install. Your screen shot shows non-server versions of 10.6 Any suggestions please. Thank you
very helpful,thanks. I installed vmware 11 on windows 10 succesfully, but I wasn’t able to download xcode. I went to appstore, clicked on Installapp and waited for hours. Any suggestion?
I have workstation 12 working well with El Capitan, but when I try to do the same install with workstation 12 pro, I cannot get fullscreen resolution.
I am using Windows 7 64bit on an Intel i7 processor.
Any Ideas?